In order to improve the Lakers, Uka Doncic was brought to Los Angeles. He has undoubtedly taken control thus far, but not everyone is happy with the way things are going.
The focus has shifted to Doncic’s style of play following a difficult March in which the Lakers lost important games and their camaraderie appeared to deteriorate. Chris Broussard of FS1, who is often a strong advocate for the Slovenian celebrity, didn’t hold back when it came to First Things First this week.
“I’ve dubbed Luka ‘Luka Legend,’ I adore him,” Broussard remarked. However, the man is currently monopolizing the offense, man. It’s excessive.
Who is being left out is the problem, not just how loud Doncic’s touches are. Even LeBron James, who is still among the game’s most knowledgeable and effective players at age 40, has been reduced to a glorified floor-spacer in the current scheme, Broussard noted. Broussard remarked, “That’s not how you use LeBron,” It’s almost disrespectful.
That annoyance is not new. During the NBA Finals last year, Brian Windhorst of ESPN made similar remarks, criticizing Doncic’s tunnel-vision offense and defensive shortcomings. At the expense of a living legend, the same problems are now manifesting in purple and gold.
To be fair, Doncic has dealt with a lot this season, including injuries around him and the pressure of filling LeBron-sized shoes whenever James has sat out. But the grace period seems to be over. This is LeBron’s team-or at least it was supposed to be.
Zach Lowe weighed in on The Lowe Post, hinting that the Lakers’ locker room isn’t exactly thrilled with the current dynamic. “LeBron didn’t come back to stand in the corner while someone else takes 30 shots and gives up 30 points on the other end,”Lowe said.
James holds a player option this summer. If things don’t change, people around the league are already whispering: could LeBron walk? It wouldn’t be the first time he’s pivoted to find a better shot at a title. And right now, the Lakers look more like a solo act than a championship-caliber team.
